DUXBURY 5th GRADE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM

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1 Duxbury Performing Arts Department DUXBURY 5th GRADE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM Dear Parents, On September 12th your child will observe a demonstration of the Band and Orchestra instruments that are offered as part of the curriculum of Duxbury Public Schools. If your son or daughter is interested in learning to play one of these instruments, the following letter contains the necessary details to have your child enter the instrumental music program. The following instruments will be offered this year: VIOLIN FLUTE TRUMPET VIOLA OBOE FRENCH HORN CELLO CLARINET TROMBONE STRING BASS* SAXOPHONE** BARITONE ** PERCUSSION(snare drum & bell kit) *Available for in school use **Limited Availability RENTAL PROGRAM The Duxbury Schools work in conjunction with Goulet & Co. of Pembroke for renting band instruments and Acoustic Strings of New England for renting string instruments. Their instrument rental prices range from $21 to $69 and all rental money paid by you goes toward the purchase of the instrument. Should you decide to buy the instrument within the rental period a discount will be offered. Goulet & Company service band instruments on Wednesdays and Acoustic Strings of New England services Duxbury Schools as needed. They pick up and deliver instruments needing service and provide an instrument while they repair yours. All string students must place their rental online from Acoustic Strings of New England before instrument handout night and Goulet & Co. will rent to you in person on instrument handout night. If you are planning to rent an instrument on your own, please be aware that all makes and models are not created equal. There are many types, which range from toy instruments to professional models. After many years, we have carefully selected each instrument brand to insure the best sound and reliability to last through high school. If you use your own instrument, please have the instrument serviced, or at least make sure the instrument is in good playing condition. We look forward to teaching your son/ daughter how to play an instrument and we are excited about them joining our Duxbury Schools Music Program. Thank you for your support, Ric Madru Duxbury Performing Arts Department Head

2 Duxbury Performing Arts Department BEGINNING INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW GROUP LESSONS Each student will receive one group lesson per week scheduled during his/her recess time or after school. Students who opt to take a lesson after school will be responsible for their own transportation. Students who opt for the recess lesson will report to the music rooms or the PAC with their instruments and then lunch. The SGI, or small group instruction is the only lesson your son/daughter will have that will teach him/her how to assemble, take care of, and play their instrument. It is essential that they attend every lesson, on his/her assigned day each week. Students will be promoted to the sixth grade band and orchestra based on their lesson attendance during the fifth grade year. This will be up to the instructor s discretion. FORGOTTEN INSTRUMENTS If your student has forgotten their instrument parents may drop it off in the instrument drop off room in the PAC area left of the auditorium doors. In order to not disrupt student learning students can not call home if they forget their instrument and parents can not call up to classrooms. PRIVATE LESSONS Some students find private lessons rewarding and beneficial. Students who have had previous experience in music, have moved ahead or fallen behind the group for any reason often benefit from private instruction. There are a number of professional private teachers in the area who charge a half hour fee of $ We have carefully compiled a list of very qualified teachers that will be available to your son/daughter if desired. PRACTICE RECORD The practice record is the only communication we have with you as to how your son/daughter is progressing in his/her lesson. Students will receive a practice record at their first lesson and they should staple it into their lesson book. Students should record how many minutes they practice each day and the parent should sign it the day before the student attends his/her lesson. The SGI teacher will sign it at the lesson, and give your son/daughter a preparation grade and a performance grade. A four is excellent and a one indicates, Improvement is needed.

3 LOTTERY SELECTION* Because of the overwhelming number of students who sign up to play an instrument every year, for many years we have used an alternate way to register your son/daughter. The saxophone and the percussion (bells and snare drum) are the most popular instruments, and unfortunately because of this the SGI classes were extremely overcrowded. In order to keep a low number of students in each class, we will ask your child to select a first, second, and third choice instrument. We will draw registration forms by lottery and honor as many first choices as possible; however, as soon as a section is filled (this is determined by the number of teachers we have to teach SGI s) we will move to the child s second choice, and then to his/her third choice. The registration form will be returned to you as soon as possible with your son s/daughter s instrument selection. We know this may be a hardship for families that own their own instrument, but history has shown us that that more than 90% of students who play an instrument because the family owns it end up quitting. Although some students may be disappointed they did not receive their first choice instrument, we hope that they will enjoy making music on an alternate instrument. SWITCHING INSTRUMENTS The switching of instruments in mid year is not encouraged. Switching is a difficult change for the student, and it is also stressful on the other students in the SGI class. If a switch occurs, the student is a beginner once again and needs to learn everything from assembling the instrument to how to hold it. Because of this students are often very far behind the normal progression of others who have been playing through the year. The following rules and steps need to be followed in order for a student to switch instruments within the Duxbury beginning SGI program: 1. The student must take private lessons through the High School After School Program or with a professional teacher. 2. The student will be allowed into the SGI at instructor s discretion, and when the instructor feels the student is at the current level of the group. 3. If lessons are overcrowded, the student may have to wait until the following year to participate in the SGI program.

4 INSTRUMENT REPAIR If you rent an instrument through the Goulet & Co. or Acoustic String of New England the cost of your repairs in most cases are free of charge. If your band instrument needs a repair, you may call Goulet and Co. ( ) and they will pick up instruments in need of repair every Wednesday morning. If your son or daughter s instrument is in the office at this time they will also leave a loaner instrument to use during the time your instrument is getting fixed. Goulet & Co. will call you at home the night before your instrument will be returned. They will only leave your repaired instrument if you leave the loaner in the office on Wednesday morning. If you need a repair on an Acoustic Strings of New England please our representative Jim Vinci at acousticbassjim@mail.com who will coordinate with you about instrument repairs and returns. Please be careful if you take your instrument to a music store to be repaired. Some music stores take weeks to months to repair instruments. We advise not to have an instrument repaired anywhere where they will not give your son/daughter a loaner instrument.

5 INSTRUMENT PICK UP NIGHT Tuesday, September 20th at 7:00 P.M. Instrumental Music Program Band Students in the Performing Arts Center and String Students in the Alden Cafeteria If you are interested in having your child play an instrument, please fill out the online form on the music website by midnight on Wednesday, September 14th. Your son/ daughter will be notified via their homeroom teacher with the instrument they have been selected to play prior to the handout night. Band and String Instruments should be picked up on Tuesday, September 20th at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center and Alden Cafeteria. A representative from Goulet & Company and Acoustic Strings of New England will be present to answer questions. Please make every effort to attend instrument pick up night. The band meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 pm and strings can arrive anytime between 7:00 to 7:30pm for pick up and a brief instrument lesson. It takes minimal time to coordinate with the music companies, and this will insure that your son/daughter will have his/her instrument for the first lesson. If you cannot attend this meeting please contact the instrument companies directly. BAND INSTRUMENTS: GOULET & COMPANY Please plan to pay by cash or check, payable to Goulet & Company ( ) for one month s rental, method book, and music stand. Oboe, Clarinet, and Saxophone players also need to purchase reeds. Instrument rental prices per month are as follows: (plus tax) Oboe $46.50 Baritone $57.50 Clarinet/ Saxophone/ French horn* $40.50 Flute/ Trumpet/ Trombone/ Percussion Kit $24.25 Lesson Book $10.00 Lesson Book for French horn/ Oboe $11.00 Lesson Book for Percussion $17.00 Music Stand (highly recommended for at home practice) $13.00 Clarinet Reeds (box of 10) $22.00 Saxophone Reeds (box of 10) $28.00 Oboe Reeds (3) $27.00 If you have your own band instrument, please send the check for the lesson book with your son/daughter to his/her first lesson made out to Goulet & Co.

6 *French horn: In an effort to stimulate more interest in the French horn, Goulet & Co.Inc. has made the following changes to the rental of these beautiful sounding instruments. 1. The monthly rental price for the single French horn has been reduced from $57.50 per month to $40.50 per month for all new contracts. 2. All single French horns will have been previously rented. There will be no new single horns. 3. Upon the completion of two (2) years of playing, the single horn may be exchanged for a double French horn. The new double horn will be a Holton H379 or one of comparable quality and price. 4. The monthly rental price for the double French horn will be $ Half of the principle paid toward the single horn will be applied to the purchase price of the double horn upon exchange. 6. While single horns may be returned or exchanged, there will be no such option on a double horn.

7 Acoustic Strings of New England ASNE specializes in string instruments. Duxbury Schools String Rental Rates: Order and sign up online with easy online sizing at our website: Then click on instrument rentals to order. All pre orders will be ready at handout night. You must order online by midnight the night before the handout date, September 19th. All basses will be delivered to the child s school for the first lesson. All non pre orders will not be given out at handout night. Late orders will be taken up to September 22th and delivered to your child s school by the first lesson. No checks. Do not forget to add the required accessories needed: All instruments need the Essential Elements Books $9.55. Violin/violas players shoulder Pad $4.25 in order to hold the instrument properly. A music stand $17 is recommended. Regular monthly rates are for credit or debit cards only: Violins and Violas up to 13 $22.13 per month ($18 rent + $1.13 tax, $4 insurance) or $ annual rate (12 months) Cellos $34.75 per month ($28 rent + $1.75 tax $5 insurance) or $ annual rate (12 months) Basses 1/8 ¼ $50.50 per month ($40 rent + $2.50 tax, $8 service coverage) or $ annual rate (12 months) Basses 1/2 3/4 $71.75 per month ($60 rent + $3.75 tax, $8 service coverage) or $ annual rate (12 months) We offer: A fine range of outstanding European instruments available for rent to own. (Rent money accrues towards any size instrument you end up purchasing.) You will not be stuck owning a small size instrument. Free replacement strings provided to the teacher in case of breakage. Excellent weekly service provided at no additional cost and a free loaner instrument provided as needed. (you never have to travel to a store for service) Jim Vinci, ASNE acousticbassjim@mail.com